ETHIOPIA: The "stark contrast" between the US and British build-up of military power in the Gulf and the need for international action to prevent famine in Africa has been criticised by the Minister of State for Overseas Development, Mr Tom Kitt.
Speaking to The Irish Times at the end of his visit to Ethiopia, he said the estimated cost of a war against Iraq, at $100 billion, could sort out much of Africa's problems and save the lives of millions of people.
"Unless the amount of international aid is dramatically increased in the months ahead, there will be a full-scale famine here that could be far worse than 1984/85", he warned. "In Ethiopia, 14 million people could die." He agreed with the UN secretary general, Mr Kofi Annan, that war in Iraq was not inevitable and that the UN weapons inspectors should be given time to complete their work.
Mr Kitt said that if war does break out, Ethiopia "will become a forgotten country and its people a forgotten people". He pledged Ireland would maintain its "strong commitment" to relieve the country's plight.
He announced that the Government was contributing a further €1.25 million "immediately" for food aid and other essential needs. This is in addition to the €2.4 million it had already provided for emergency relief in Ethiopia.
Mr Kitt stressed that this financial assistance would be closely integrated with Ireland Aid's involvement in long-term development projects, such as the greening of Gegera valley in the country's northernmost Tigray province.
He also said he would be lobbying other EU countries.
